Daysman Arnold Morris

Daysman Arnold Morris of Southold died Dec. 16, 2013, at 10:30 p.m. He passed away peacefully of natural causes at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport, at the age of 89.

Daysman was born in Southold March 22, 1924, the son of G. Thomas Morris and Anna Falcon Morris and the fourth of seven children.

Daysman attended Southold High School until his sophomore year and joined the Navy, serving his country from 1943 to 1946. His tour of duty took him many places such as Bainbridge, Md., Norfolk, Va., Honolulu, Bermuda, Gibraltar, the Panama Canal, the Philippine Islands and the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, Japan. Some years later, after marrying and having children, he decided to obtain his GED, of which he was very proud.

Daysman had the distinction of being the son of one of the founders of Shiloh Baptist Church. He was baptized by the Rev. William Turner at age 11. He became a member of the Junior Usher Board and continued until approximately five years ago. He was president of the Senior Ushers for a number of years, served as church treasurer for over 35 years and was a Trustee until his demise.

On Aug. 14, 1949, he was united in Holy Matrimony by the Rev. Leroy Wertz with Nannie Morris (not related), daughter of James and Pearl Morris. They are blessed with three wonderful children: Douglas Arnold, Lori Morris Latney and Sandra Denise.

In 1953, Daysman and his brother Clarence became partners in the Morris Cesspool Service Inc. In 1955 he became sole owner of the business, which he ran successfully for nearly 40 years. He retired in 1990 and the business was taken over by his son, Douglas, under the same name. Daysman remained as a consultant for a several years.

Daysman led a very busy life being involved in various civic, fraternal and religious organizations, such as the NAACP (treasurer) and the Eastern Baptist Churches Union (treasurer). In 1959, he became a member of Tyre Lodge No. 91 of the Free and Accepted Masons. He became Worshipful Master in 1966-67 and was a member of many Houses of Masonry. He also was a Patron of Tyre Chapter 62 Order of the Eastern Star. He belonged to the Southold Rotary Club, serving as its president in 1986-87. He was a recipient of the Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow award and was a life member of Burton Potter Post 185 of the American Legion in Greenport, N.Y.

Daysman was predeceased by his twin brother, Vincent; brothers Levi and Clarence; his sister, Alice Tucker; and a special friend, Charlie Bumble. He is survived by his sisters Eleanor Lingo (O.D.) of Southold and Virginia Draper of Edison, N.J.

Also mourning his loss are his faithful and loving wife, Nan; three children, Douglas, Lori Morris Latney and Sandra Denise; three grandchildren, Christopher Latney of Greenport, Heather Latney Kelly (Marc) of Randallstown, Md., and Hraklis Morris of Greenport; four great-grandchildren, Preston Latney, Marc Kelly, Justin Kelly and Jordan Morris; two great-great-grandchildren, Takyea Solomon and Tyreik Solomon; a godson, Zenos Morris of Brooklyn; two grand-godchildren, twins Christopher and Christina Parker; two sisters-in-law, Mary B. Morris of Blythewood, S.C., and Evelyn Morris of Ocala, Fla.; and many cousins and friends.

The family received friends Dec. 19 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. Homegoing services were celebrated Dec. 20 by the Rev. Tommy Edmond at Shiloh Baptist Church. Interment with U.S. Navy honors was at Calverton National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Association for the Help of Retarded Children Suffolk (AHRC), 2900 Veterans Memorial Highway, Bohemia, NY 11716.